Edinburgh City Council Solar Co-Op

25 Sep 2016

Community Energy Framework

Emtec Energy were appointed as Principal Contractor to install 1.4MW of Solar PV across 24 council owned properties consisting of Primary, Secondary and Special Needs Schools, as well as Leisure and Community Centres. The 8-month project, completed between February and September 2016, is expected to produce an annual yield of 1,120,000kWh which equates to a reduction of 553,280kg of CO₂ emissions a year.

Our Design Engineers carried out detailed site surveys on all sites reporting on roof, structural, asbestos and electrical particulars. Measurements and manufacturer details of roof types were taken and factored into the design of the solar photovoltaic arrays. Roof dilapidation reports were also compiled based on the condition of the roofs at each site. These reports were issued to the Council stating any roof areas which would require remedial repairs prior to the commencement of works. Individual designs were created for each site using PV Sol Professional Solar PV Modelling Software and AutoCAD, which would form part of the individual Construction Phase Plans for each site.

Emtec put in a competitive bid that provided us with what we required. I’m happy to say that Emtec delivered on-time in often challenging circumstances and to a tight deadline. Many of our schools commented on how good Emtec were to have onsite

Paul Phare, Director of Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative

Site Specific Case Study

Currie High School

Emtec Energy were contracted to install a 133.38kW solar PV system for Currie High School in Edinburgh. This is expected to produce an annual yield of 98,839kWh, contributing to a reduction of 48,826kg CO₂ emissions per year. The project included the design, installation and maintenance of the solar modules, which was completed in September 2016.

This project presented several barriers to installation. As the system was installed across multiple roofs, this required additional surveys and analysis to ensure maximum efficiency was reached. The school also acts as a community centre outside of school hours, this means the building was in use seven days a week and often busy throughout the whole day. This limited the hours available for operation as we were only allowed access to areas at certain times. Through daily meetings and collaboration with the building manager, we discussed our installation plans for the day and agreed upon terms to ensure this ran smoothly. With processes in place, we managed to complete this project with ease and to the delight of those involved in the project.

A conscientious approach by Emtec throughout the project and a professional approach by all Emtec operatives ensured that teachers and pupils were unaffected by these works.